ABC Television Network

Posted on April 8, 2013 by mjenkins

by Macy Jenkins

History

The American Broadcasting Company began in 1943, after previously operating as the NBC Blue Radio Network. The first television broadcast was in 1948. In 1996, The Walt Disney Company bought ABC, which is now a part of the Disney-ABC Television Group. Corporate headquarters and network news are based in New York City, while programming is based in Burbank, California.

The Players

Source: disneylandtraveler.blogspot.com

Bob Iger

Chairman and CEO of the Walt Disney Company.

Iger began his career at ABC in 1974. Most recently, he acquired Pixar (2006) and Marvel (2009). He directed the merger between Capital Cities/ABC, Inc. and The Walt Disney Company. [1]

Source: Womensconference.org

Anne Sweeney

Co-Chair, Disney Media Networks; President, Disney/ABC Television Group.

Sweeney oversees ABC Studios, the ABC Owned Television Stations Group, the ABC Television Network, Disney Channels Worldwide, ABC Family, SOAPnet, and A&E Television Networks.

Source: disneyabctv.com

Kevin Brockman

Executive Vice President, Global Communications, Disney/ABC Television Group.

Brockman oversees all corporate, news and entertainment communication efforts worldwide on behalf of the Disney/ABC Television Group.

Source: disneyabctv.com

Rebecca Campbell

President, ABC Owned Television Stations Group.

Campbell is responsible for the company’s eight local TV stations and their digital assets in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Houston, Raleigh-Durham and Fresno.

First Quarter Report

The Walt Disney Company’s media networks (which include cable and broadcast stations) increased by 7% in 2012, ending with $5.1 billion in revenue. ABC Broadcasting revenue increased by 6% over the last year, going from $1.4 billion to $1.5 billion. This comes after broadcasting operating income increased by $36 million to $262 million in 2012. The increase in operating income was able to increase because of higher advertising revenues. The amount of online advertising increased, as did advertising rates. [2]

Ratings

Each of the broadcast networks has seen a decreased in ratings from last year. As of March 24^th, ABC is in fourth place (after CBS, FOX, and NBC) with a 26-week season average of a 2.3 rating. ABC is down 8% from last season. Among total viewers, ABC’s 7.8 million is second only to CBS’ 12.1 million viewers (CBS had the Superbowl and the Grammy’s, while ABC’s main event was the Academy Awards). [3]

Source: nydailynews.com

On Sunday February 24^th, 40 million people tuned in to watch Seth MacFarlane host the 85^th Annual Academy Awards ceremony. It was the most watched Oscars since 2010. And this year’s saw 1 million more viewers than Billy Crystal’s 2012 ceremony. [4]

Primetime Programming

In January 2013, ABC had television’s number 1 scripted program for adults 18-49,
“Modern Family.” [5] Source: scottfeinberg.com

Top Rated Shows: Modern Family, Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, Once Upon a Time, Dancing With the Stars, The Middle, The Bachelor, Castle, and 20/20.

On March 21, 2013, Grey’s Anatomy beat American Idol for the first time ever. And ABC delivers its most-watched non Oscar week since November during the week of March 18th.

On March 21, 2013, “Grey’s Anatomy” beat “American Idol” in the ratings for the first time. And ABC delivered its most-watched non-Oscar week since November during the week of March 18th. [6] Source: homeofthenutty.com

New Shows – Winter 2013:

The Taste: The competitive reality cooking show premiered on Tuesday January 22, 2013. The eight-episode season consisted of auditions where the judges blindly tasted food and eventually eliminated teams to find the winner. The premiere earned a 4.0 rating but the spring finale raked in a mere 1.1. Critics say The Taste is simply a less exciting version of NBC’s The Voice. [7] [8]

Zero Hour: The drama premiered on Thursday February 14, 2013. It was the least-watched premiere for a scripted series in ABC’s history (1.3 rating/6.3 million viewers). Two weeks later, it was canceled. [9]

Red Widow: The drama premiered on Sunday March 3, 2013 and was picked up for eight episodes. It’s centered around a woman who discovered her husband’s secret business life after he is murdered. The premiere earned a 1.5 rating and it’s currently the lowest-rated show on the network. However, ABC hasn’t pulled the plug yet. [10]

Splash: The series premiered on Tuesday March 19, 2013 to an audience of 8.8 million and earned a 2.6 rating. It’s ABC’s highest-rated reality TV premiere in two years and the highest-rated reality TV premiere since The X Factor’s Fall 2011 premiere. [11]

Cast of “Splash”. Source: zap2it

How to Live With Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life): The comedy premiered on Wednesday April 3, 2013. It stars Sarah Chalke as a divorced mother who moves back in with her hippie parents. The show premiered with a 2.9 rating. It airs after ABC’s #1 show, Modern Family. [12]

Source: Slant Magazine

(See the “How to Live with your parents…” trailer)

Family Tools: The comedy will premiere on Wednesday May 1, 2013 as a part of ABC’s Wednesday comedy line-up. The series is centered on a man who returns home from the army and has to take over his father’s hardware business. [13]

The only new shows from fall 2012 to escape cancellation (so far) have been Nashville, Malibu Country, and The Neighbors.

ABC Daytime

Daytime television as a whole is not what it once was. The soap opera era is over and only four traditional American soap operas remain on the air across all of the networks. Due to declining ratings, ABC canceled the long-running dramas All My Children in 2011 and One Life to Live in 2012. The sole survivor is General Hospital, which airs at 2pm.

Source: webpronews

The only other daytime programming the network offers is The View at 11am and The Chew at 1pm.

ABC News

ABC’s news programming includes World News with Diane Sawyer, Good Morning America, Nightline, Primetime, 20/20, and This Week with George Stephanopoulos.

Good Morning America was the number 1 morning program in total viewers and in the Adult 25-54 demographic during the fourth quarter of 2012. In fact, it marked the first time the program has won the Adult 25-54 demographic since 1994.

Source: Facebook

Nightline was the number 1 late-night program in total viewers and in the Adult 25-54 demo.

World News with Diane Sawyer beat CBS Evening News in fourth quarter ratings and saw its strongest fourth quarter performance since 2009.

Diane Sawyer has been with ABC News since 1989 and serves as the leading face of ABC’s News Department. Source: ABC News

Online and Mobile

Election Night 2012 was the most streamed live event in the history of ABC News. [14] Source: Sun Times

ABC.com has a comedy web series that infuses recaps from the network’s programs with comedic situations. The latest is called “Taye Diggs Destroys Hip Hop.” Actor Taye Diggs leaves Private Practice and starts a career in the world of Hip Hop music. [15]

ABC was the first network to offer a mobile app (released in april 2010). As of April 5^th, the app had been downloaded 10 million times, there have been 200 million episode views and more than 1.3 billion ads run. [16]

ABC’s video player is the sixth most downloaded free iPad app of all time. Source: ABC

The Future

ABC still claims the number 1 scripted show, Modern Family, and has a large online presence. But overall, in the era of “blinkandyoumissit,” the major networks have no time to rest before they plot their next moves.

Sources

[1] “Robert A. Iger” http://thewaltdisneycompany.com/about-disney/leadership/ceo/robert-iger

[2] “The Walt Disney Company Reports First Quarter Earnings For Fiscal 2013” http://thewaltdisneycompany.com/sites/default/files/press-releases/pdfs/q1-fy13-earnings.pdf

[3] “2012-2013 Season: CBS Leads Among Adults 18-49 & With Total Viewers Through Week 26 Ending March 24, 2013” http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/03/26/2012-2013-season-cbs-leads-among-adults-18-49-with-total-viewers-through-week-26-ending-march-24-2013/174970/

[4] “Seth MacFarlane-Hosted Oscars Watched By 40.3M, Up From 2012” http://www.deadline.com/2013/02/oscars-2013-tv-ratings-up-from-2012-abc-seth-macfarlane/

[5] “ABC The Only Major Net to Grow Year to Year” http://tvafterdarkonline.com/2013/01/abc-the-only-major-net-to-grow-year-to-year/

[6] “ABC Delivers Its Most-Watched Non-“Oscar” Week Since November” http://www.thefutoncritic.com/ratings/2013/03/26/abc-delivers-its-most-watched-non-oscar-week-since-november-209415/20130326abc02/

[7] “The Taste’s Two-Hour Premiere Earned Solid Ratings” http://eater.com/archives/2013/01/23/the-taste-wire.php

[8] “’The Taste’ Ends First Season With A Sad Whimper” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/14/the-taste_n_2876049.html

[9]” ‘Zero Hour’ Canceled: ABC Pulls Anthony Edwards Drama After Three Episodes” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/01/zero-hour-canceled_n_2794162.html

[10] “Red Widow: New ABC TV Series; Cancel or Keep It?” http://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/red-widow-new-abc-tv-series-cancel-or-keep-it-27528/

[11] “Ratings: ABC Makes a Big Splash, Body of Proof Rises, Smash Dips, New Normal Drops” http://tvline.com/2013/03/20/ratings-abc-splash-premiere-ncis-la-spinoff/

[12] “’How to Live with Your Parents’ Opens Strong, ‘Modern Family’ is Wednesday’s Number 1 TV Show” http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/04/04/how-to-live-with-your-parents-opens-strong-modern-family-is-wednesdays-number-1-tv-show/176484/

[13] “’Family Tools’ Cut Down To 10 Episodes: ABC’s Midseason Comedy Affected By ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Schedule” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/10/family-tools-cut-down-to-10-episodes-abcs-midseason-comedy_n_2109980.html

[14] “ABC News surges into 2013 propelled by strong 4th quarter 2012 ratings.” http://www.cynopsis.com/files/8013/5759/7642/ABC_NEWS_SURGES_INTO_2013_PROPELLED_BY_STRONG_4TH_QUARTER_2012_RATINGS.pdf

[15] “It’s No April Fools Joke: ‘Taye Diggs Destroys Hip Hop’ on ABC.com/ABCdotcomedy – Video” http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/04/01/its-no-april-fools-joke-taye-diggs-destroys-hip-hop-on-abc-comabcdotcomedy-video/175843/

[16] “Disney/ABC App Downloaded 10 Million Times.” http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/197432/disneyabc-app-downloaded-10-million-times.html#axzz2PslnXpZl

ABC Network, O&Os and Affiliates

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Baindu Saidu

by Baindu N. Saidu

via: http://www.geek4tv.com/tv-news/tv-news-abc-update-%E2%80%93-abc-cancels-brothers-and-sisters-v-plus-4-more-picks-up-charlie%E2%80%99s-angels-tim-allen-comedy-good-christian-belles-renews-body-of-proof

The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) is one of the oldest American broadcasting networks. Originally created in the 1940’s from the NBC Blue rradio network, ABC is now owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group[1]. The group is composed of Disney’s global entertainment and news television properties, owned television stations group, as well as radio and publishing businesses. This includes ABC Television Network, ABC Owned Television Station Group, ABC Studios, Disney Channels Worldwide, ABC Family, and SOAPnet, as well as Disney/abc Domestic Television and Disney Media Distribution[2].

The parent company, The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS), together with its subsidiaries, is a diversified worldwide entertainment company with operations in media Networks, Parks and Resorts, Studio Entertainment, Consumer Products, and Interactive Media.

image via: http://clipandfollow.com/amazon-various-disney-hardcover-storybooks-for-5-00-reg-15-99/

Key Disney Executives:

John Pepper – Chairman

Robert Iger – President, CEO

James Rasulo – Senior Executive Vice President, CFO

Alan Braverman – Senior Executive Vice President, Secretary, General Counsel

Kevin Mayer – Executive Vice President

Key Disney Financials (in USD as of 09/29/2012):

Revenue:42, 278m

Net income:5,682m

Revenue per share: 23.57 [4]

Graph from Bloomberg.com (http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/DIS:US/chart)

Walt Disney Co. News (Fall 2012)

October 30, 2012: Disney Buys Lucasfilm for $4 Billion in cash and stock and will debut a new Star Wars movie, Episode VII,in 2015. George Lucas, the creator of the Star Wars franchise and CEO of Lucasfilm, owned 100% of the company[5]. Kathleen Kennedy, current co-chair of Lucasfilm, will become its president, reporting to Walt Disney Studios chair Alan Horn. Kennedy will serve as executive producer on new Star Wars features, with Lucas serving as creative consultant [6].
November 28, 2012: Walt Disney said that it would boost its annual dividend to shareholders by 25% to 75¢ a share. It was the latest company to do so on jitters over the looming “fiscal cliff.” The dividend announcement came a day after Disney raised $3 billion in a bond offering, part of which would likely go toward funding the bigger shareholder payout [7].
December 4, 2012: Disney signed an unprecedented movie deal with Netflix, allowing Netflix subscribers to stream films from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation, Marvel and Disneynature, starting in 2016. When the deal kicks in, Netflix will become the exclusive U.S. subscription television service for first-run, live-action and animated feature films from the Walt Disney Studios, receiving access to the movies after they’re made available for sale and rental. Netflix managers also cut a separate multi-year deal with Disney to bring some older catalog titles to Netflix streaming immediately[8].

ABC Network

ABC Television network provides broadcast programming to more than 220 affiliated stations across the country. the network encompasses ABC News, respoinsible for news programming on television and other digital platforms, ABC Entertainement Group, responsible for the network’s primetime and late-night fair, ABC Daytime,producers of the network’s daytime programming, and ABC Kids, responsible for children’s programming [9].

ABC Daytime

-September 10, 2012: Katie Couric’s new daytime talk show premiered to an estimated 1.535-million viewers from the top 56 U.S. markets. put Couric comfortably ahead of the freshman talk-show pack. “Katie” outdrew “Steve Harvey” by 87%, “Jeff Probst” by 150% and “Ricki Lake” by 250%[10]. For entire article.

-November 26, 2012: As sweeps month comes to a close, Good Morning America is poised to beat out Today to win November sweeps in total viewers and the key adults 25-54 demo, according to Nielsen. It would be GMA‘s first November sweep win in total viewers since 1995, and its first sweeps victory in the key demo in more than 18 years. [11]. For entire article.

-December 06, 2012: ABC was Daytime’s number 1 network for the 12th consecutive week in Women 18-34 (0.6 rating / 214,000 – tied), and was #1 for the 8th straight week in Women 18-49 (0.9 rating / 569,000 – tied) [12]. For entire press release.

Primetime Programming

ABC Entertainment Group develops and produces compelling programming for broadcast on ABC in addition to other television and digital platforms. The group includes ABC Entertainment, which is responsible for all network primetime and late-night entertainment programming. ABC Studios is responsible for the development and production of primetime and late-night entertainment content for ABC, among other platforms. Disney-ABC Domestic Television is responsible for the content distribution within the United States and Canada [13].

New Programs Fall 2012

New ABC Series Premiering in Fall 2012:

-666 Park Avenue

-Last Resort

-Malibu Country

-Nashville

-The Neighbors

For in-depth information about any of ABC’s Fall premiere shows go here.

Fall Ratings

October 09, 2012: After two weeks of the 2012-2013 broadcast television season (through Sunday, October 7 2012), NBC is in first place among adults 18-49, with a 2.8 rating average. Runners-up FOX and CBS tied for second, each earning a 2.4 rating average. ABC came in fourth with a 2.1 rating average and Univision was fifth with a 1.4 18-49 rating. The CW finished last with a 0.3 adults 18-49 rating average [14].

November 13, 2012: After seven weeks of the 2012-2013 broadcast television season (through Sunday, November 11, 2012), NBC is in first place among adults 18-49, with a 3.2 rating average, up 23% from last season. CBS was second, with a 2.8 rating average, down 18% from a year ago. ABC was third with a 2.6, down 7% from a year ago. FOX was fourth with a 2.5, down 29% from last season. The CW finished last with a 0.7 adults 18-49 rating average [15].

November 27, 2012: ABC Draws its 2nd-Largest Audience Since Season Premiere Week and Claims 4 of the Top 15 Most-Watched TV Shows Overall [16]. For specifics on the individual ratings go here.

December 04, 2012: After eight weeks of the 2012-2013 broadcast television season (through Sunday, November 25, 2012), NBC is in first place among adults 18-49, with a 3.2 rating average, up 23% from last season. CBS was second, with a 2.8 rating average, down 18% from the prior season. ABC was third with a 2.6, down 7% from the previous season FOX was fourth with a 2.4, down 31% from last season. The CW finished last with a 0.8 adults 18-49 rating average, down 20% from the previous season. Among total viewers, CBS is ahead for the season averaging 11.718 million viewers. ABC is second with 9.168m, followed by NBC with 8.913 m, FOX with 6.853m, and CW with 1.888 million [17].

December 04, 2012: During the week of November 26, 2012, ABC qualified as the 2nd-most-watched network to CBS, outdrawing an NFL-fueled NBC (8.03 million vs. 7.97 million). And excluding sports, ABC beat out NBC for the week by 10% in Adults 18-49 (2.2/6 vs. 2.0/6). Season-to-Date C3 Ratings (9/24-11/11/12): ABC is the No. 1 network this season in the sales currency of C3 non-sports Adult 18-49 ratings (Commercial Ratings + 3 Days of Playback), out-delivering CBS by 5%, Fox by 10% and NBC by 10%: ABC = 2.3 rating, CBS = 2.2 rating, Fox = 2.1 rating and NBC = 2.1 rating [18].

Coming up

So far in the season, 3 shows have been cancelled, two of which are new series. Private Practice, 666 Park Avenue and The Last Resort will not be seeing anymore seasons. To check the cancellation/renewal index for ABC shows, go here. For information on midseason premieres go here.

Owned and Operated Stations

The ABC Owned Television Stations Group includes WABC-TV New York, KABC-TV Los Angeles, WLS-TV Chicago, WPVI-TV Philadelphia, KGO-TV San Francisco, KTRK-TV Houston, WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham and KFSN-TV Fresno. The eight owned stations reach 23.3% of all U.S. television households. All are strong performers in their local markets, with most ranking #1 sign-on to sign-off in key A.C. Nielsen ratings for adults 18-49 and 25-54 [20 ].

O & O News:

September 4, 2012: Owned and operated station, WABC-TV, home to the popular syndicated series “Live! with Regis and Kelly, ” welcomed new co-host Michael Strahan, to thew show, now titled “Live! with Kelly and Michael.” For more on the story click here.
For more ABC O&O news check out this website.

Affilate Stations

There are over 220 ABC affiliated stations across the U.S.

November, 21, 2012: KABC remains dominant in L.A. local news. Story here.
December 07, 2012: Sinclair Broadcast Finalizes TV Station Acquisitions, among them ABC Affiliate stations. story here.
For information on their activities go here.

References

[1] http://broadcasting.wikia.com/wiki/American_Broadcasting_Company

[2] http://www.disneyabctv.com/division/index_facts.shtml

[3] http://www.mergentonline.com/companydetail.php?compnumber=2488&pagetype=synopsis

[4] same as [3]

[5] http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-buy-lucasfilm-405-billion-384448

[6] http://www.businessinsider.com/disney-buys-lucasfilm-for-4-billion-2012-10

[7] http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118062809

[8] http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57557110-93/netflix-signs-unprecedented-movie-deal-with-disney/?ttag=gpwl

[9] http://www.disneyabctv.com/division/index_facts.shtml

[10] http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/tv-column/post/first-week-of-katie-courics-talk-show-gets-big-ratings-early-stats-say/2012/09/17/75449882-0119-11e2-b260-32f4a8db9b7e_blog.html

[11] http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/490529-Morning_Show_Ratings_GMA_Set_to_Win_November_Sweep.php